Hogan and I were waiting for our dinner to be served for our last night here in Phuket when randomly, a man holding two big lanterns passed us.
Hogan: Babe, there's a sky lantern.
Kyte: Oh wow!
Hogan: You want to fly it? You've always wanted to.
Kyte: Wow! Really?
(There was a photo I've sent to him in whatsapp captioned, "Take me here." I know, I know, Rapunzel's death wish. Ha! But seeing this photo surely made me dream.)
Hogan: You want to?
Kyte: That would be nice. We can do it for your dad and your friends.
Hogan: Oh yeah. Come, let's do it!
It was Hogan's dad's birthday yesterday. And he passed away last 2001. My husband always describes that day as the day he never wanted to remember.
To my father-in-law, wherever you are, I am forever indebted to you and Mama Sifou for bringing Hogan here on earth. I was able to find my better half, my soul mate. I am complete because of him and he always aims to live like you. He always talks to me about the lessons you had imparted on him and the values that you've instilled on him. I know if we will have our kids in the future, he will become a good father because of you. He wishes for me to having met you and every time, I feel the ache in his heart because he misses you and loves you a lot along with his siblings. Thank you so much. Happy Happy Birthday!
Two of Hogan's friend passed away too. One before we left for our trip and one just yesterday. To these special people along with the 10,000 plus Filipinos whose lives were spared because of the typhoon Haiyan, we have let a sky lantern fly in your honor for a peaceful journey to afterlife. To the families whose loss can never be eased by words, may light be shed upon you to be able to build up that tiny hope you are holding onto.
For my Laid Back Tuesday, I would like to share our first experience in letting off a sky lantern. It may have cost us only 300 Baht but there's something that felt very moving watching the lantern go. When we reached our room, my husband told me that he was thinking of bring me to the Lantern Festival for real.
Hogan: Babe, there's a sky lantern.
Kyte: Oh wow!
Hogan: You want to fly it? You've always wanted to.
Kyte: Wow! Really?
(There was a photo I've sent to him in whatsapp captioned, "Take me here." I know, I know, Rapunzel's death wish. Ha! But seeing this photo surely made me dream.)Hogan: You want to?
Kyte: That would be nice. We can do it for your dad and your friends.
Hogan: Oh yeah. Come, let's do it!
It was Hogan's dad's birthday yesterday. And he passed away last 2001. My husband always describes that day as the day he never wanted to remember.
To my father-in-law, wherever you are, I am forever indebted to you and Mama Sifou for bringing Hogan here on earth. I was able to find my better half, my soul mate. I am complete because of him and he always aims to live like you. He always talks to me about the lessons you had imparted on him and the values that you've instilled on him. I know if we will have our kids in the future, he will become a good father because of you. He wishes for me to having met you and every time, I feel the ache in his heart because he misses you and loves you a lot along with his siblings. Thank you so much. Happy Happy Birthday!
Two of Hogan's friend passed away too. One before we left for our trip and one just yesterday. To these special people along with the 10,000 plus Filipinos whose lives were spared because of the typhoon Haiyan, we have let a sky lantern fly in your honor for a peaceful journey to afterlife. To the families whose loss can never be eased by words, may light be shed upon you to be able to build up that tiny hope you are holding onto.
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| the super typhoon Haiyan's eye on the Philippines |
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| Haiyan aftermath |
For my Laid Back Tuesday, I would like to share our first experience in letting off a sky lantern. It may have cost us only 300 Baht but there's something that felt very moving watching the lantern go. When we reached our room, my husband told me that he was thinking of bring me to the Lantern Festival for real.
But for me, it turned out, it was much better. Here's the video of a very good ender for our honeymoon trip. (Apologies for the video might be a little dark.)
"A sky lantern, also known as Kongming lantern or Chinese lantern, is a small hot air balloon made of paper, with an opening at the bottom where a small fire is suspended.
In Asia and elsewhere around the world, sky lanterns have been traditionally made for centuries, to be launched for play or as part of long-established festivities. The name "sky lantern" is a translation of the Chinese name tiān dēng. Sky lanterns have also been referred to as sky candles or fire balloons, however the latter term is also used to refer to balloon munitions used during World War II.
The Lanna people of northern Thailand use "floating lanterns" (khom loi) year round, for celebrations and other special occasions. One very important festival in which sky lanterns are used is the Lanna Yi Peng festival, which is held on a full moon of the 2nd month (Yi Peng) of the Lanna calendar (which coincides with Loi Krathong, the traditional festival on the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar). During the Yi Peng festival, a multitude of lanterns are launched into the air where they resemble large flocks of giant fluorescent jellyfish gracefully floating by through the sky. The most elaborate Yi Peng celebrations can be seen in Chiang Mai, the ancient capital of the former Lanna kingdom. The festival is meant as a time to obtain Buddhist merit (tham bun, "fire lamps"). In recent times, floating lanterns have become so popular with all Thai people that they have become integrated into the festival in the rest of country.
In addition, people will also decorate their houses, gardens and temples with intricately shaped paper lanterns (khom fai) of various forms. It is considered good luck to release a sky lantern, and many Thais believe they are symbolic of problems and worries floating away."
In Asia and elsewhere around the world, sky lanterns have been traditionally made for centuries, to be launched for play or as part of long-established festivities. The name "sky lantern" is a translation of the Chinese name tiān dēng. Sky lanterns have also been referred to as sky candles or fire balloons, however the latter term is also used to refer to balloon munitions used during World War II.
The Lanna people of northern Thailand use "floating lanterns" (khom loi) year round, for celebrations and other special occasions. One very important festival in which sky lanterns are used is the Lanna Yi Peng festival, which is held on a full moon of the 2nd month (Yi Peng) of the Lanna calendar (which coincides with Loi Krathong, the traditional festival on the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar). During the Yi Peng festival, a multitude of lanterns are launched into the air where they resemble large flocks of giant fluorescent jellyfish gracefully floating by through the sky. The most elaborate Yi Peng celebrations can be seen in Chiang Mai, the ancient capital of the former Lanna kingdom. The festival is meant as a time to obtain Buddhist merit (tham bun, "fire lamps"). In recent times, floating lanterns have become so popular with all Thai people that they have become integrated into the festival in the rest of country.
In addition, people will also decorate their houses, gardens and temples with intricately shaped paper lanterns (khom fai) of various forms. It is considered good luck to release a sky lantern, and many Thais believe they are symbolic of problems and worries floating away."
- WIKIPEDIA
